Sindh High Court gives lawyers seven days to remove official symbols from cars

The chief justice of the Sindh High Court has given lawyers, judicial officers and court staff seven days to strip unauthorised number plates and official symbols from their private vehicles, warning that cars which fail to comply will be barred from entering court premises.

The Sindh High Court registrar said the directive was issued on Friday and covers vehicles owned by advocates, judicial officers, court staff and other relevant individuals. ProPakistani reported the list of banned items and the exemption clause in full, while The News reported that judicial officers and advocates had been told to remove the high court's official emblems from private vehicles.

Private vehicles must have green number plates, government logos and monograms, blue lights, stickers, badges, flags, inscriptions, flashers and revolving lights removed. Fake government number plates and fake AFR plates are also covered by the order.

The registrar said unauthorised official symbols and illegal number plates on private vehicles posed serious security risks and created a false impression of government privileges.

Vehicles covered by Rule 76(f) of the Sindh Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Rules 2017 are exempt from the directive. The chief justice directed judicial staff, judicial officers and lawyers to make sure their vehicles comply with the law.

The seven days run from the directive's issuance on Friday. Vehicles still carrying the banned items after that will be denied entry to the Sindh High Court, the City Court, and the district and sessions courts. Owners who violate the order may also face police action in accordance with the law.

The registrar's statement sets out the vehicles and symbols covered by the order. It does not identify any individual owner or particular vehicle, and it does not say how checks at court gates will be carried out.